Pitless well adaptor

ABSTRACT

A pitless well adaptor includes a casing engaging member or saddle which is clamped against the well casing and around the opening therein, and is connected to a horizontal delivery pipe. A pair of positioning elements on the casing engaging member permit the latter to be properly orientated with respect to opening in the casing, and a pair of annular sealing elements are interposed between the exterior surface of the casing and the casing engaging member to form a seal thereat. The annular space between the sealing elements defines a pressure passage which communicates with the main passage through the adaptor so that the external seal is under system pressure. A coupling member, which is connected to the well pipe, is releasably interconnected to the casing engaging member by coacting tapered guide elements to thereby intercommunicate the well pipe to the delivery pipe.

United States Patent [191 Kramer [4 1 Jan. 1,1974

[ PITLESS WELL ADAPTOR [75] Inventor: Dean C. Kramer, Mason City, Iowa [73] Assignee: Martinson Mfg. Co., Inc., Sheffield,

Iowa

[22] Filed: Apr. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,618

Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink A1mrne vGeorge F. Williamson et a1.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A pitless well adaptor includes a casing engaging member or saddle which is clamped against the well casing and around the opening therein, and is connected to a horizontal delivery pipe. A pair of positioning elements on the casing engaging member permit the latter to be properly orientated with respect to opening in the casing, and a pair of annular sealing elements are interposed between the exterior surface of the casing and the casing engaging member to form a seal thereat. The annular space between the sealing elements defines a pressure passage which communicates with the main passage through the adaptor so that the external seal is under system pressure. A coupling member, which is connected to the well pipe, is releasably interconnected to the casing engaging member by coacting tapered guide elements to thereby intercommunicate the well pipe to the delivery pipe.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 I974 SHED 1 0f 2 PATENTEU 3.782.462

sum 2 or 2 25 "h. g/zs PITLESS WELL ADAPTOR BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a pitless well adaptor which may be readily applied to a well casing for interconnecting the well pipe to the delivery pipe, and which is under system pressure. The adaptor includes a casing engaging member or saddle secured to the wall casing and interconnecting the delivery pipe to a coupling member which is interconnected to a well pipe. The main passage through the adaptor is intercommunicated with an annular pressure passage located between a pair of annular sealing elements which are interposed between the casing engaging member and the well casing. The coupling connection between the well pipe and delivery pipe is therefore under system pressure.

The coupling member and the casing engaging member are provided with tapered interengaging guide elements which permit the coupling member to be secured to the casing engaging member in fluid sealing relation, and also permitting ready removal of the coupling member from the casing engaging member with a mini mum of effort.

The casing engaging member is also provided with unique positioning elements which not only facilitate positioning and centering of the casing engaging member with respect to the well casing, but also facilitate guiding of the coupling member when the latter is disengaged from the casing engaging member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel pitless well adaptor applied to a well casing.

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross section taken approximately along line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that one embodiment of the pitless well adaptor, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is thereshown. The pitless well adaptor I0 is illustrated in mounted relation with respect to a well casing 11 which is provided with an oval shaped opening lla therein. The pitless well adaptor is mounted on the casing below the upper end thereof so that the delivery pipe is located below the frost line.

The well adaptor 10 includes a generally oval shaped casing engaging member or saddle 12 which has a convex outer surface 13 and a concave inner surface 14. An internally threaded sleeve 15 is connected in fluid sealing relation with respect to a horizontal delivery pipe 16. The interior of the sleeve 15 defines the main passage 15a of the casing engaging member 12.

The casing engaging member 12 is provided with a lower positioning element 17 and an upper positioning element 18 each projecting from the concave inner surface 14. It will be noted that the lower positioning element 17 which is positioned adjacent the lower end portion of the casing engaging member has a downwardly convex curvilinear lower surface portion 19 and an upwardly concave upper surface portion 20. The upper positioning element 18 has an upwardly convex curvilinear upper surface portion 21 and a downwardly concave surface portion 22 which also curves upwardly and inwardly. The curvilinear surface portion 19 of the lower positioning element 17 and the curvilinear upper surface portion 21 of the upper positioning element 18 correspond to and are accommodated against the corresponding curvilinear portions of the edges defining the opening 11a in the casing 12. Thus the positioning elements 17 and 18 provide very effective centering means for accurately centering the casing engaging member with respect to the opening 11a therin.

It will be noted that the casing engaging member 12 has substantially straight vertical or longitudinal edges 12a and curved end edges 12b. A plurality of pairs of spaced apart ears 23 are integrally formed with the casing engaging member 12 and project outwardly from the longitudinal edges 12a thereof. In the embodiments shown, two pairs of spaced apart ears 23 are provided for each longitudinal edge. The threaded end portions of elongate U-shaped bolts or straps 24 extend between pairs of ears 23 and are threadedly engaged by nuts 26, suitable washers 27 being provided for bearing engagement with the ears 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the marginal portions of the casing engaging member project outwardly beyond the edges of the opening 11a in the casing. It will also be noted that the inner surface of the marginal portions of the casing engaging member is provided with a pair of spaced apart annular recesses 28 therein, each recess being separated by an annular continuous ridge 29. Each of the annular recesses 28 accommodates a compressible annular sealing element 30 therein which is formed of a suitable yieldable material such as rubber or the like. It will be noted that when the casing engaging member is clamped against the outer surface of the casing 11, the sealing elements 30 are compressed to form fluid seals. It will also be noted that the annular space 31 between the sealing elements defines a pressure passage 31 which extends throughout the periphery of easing engaging member and is sealed from the exterior.

This pressure passage 31 intercommunicated with the main passage 15a of the casing engaging member by means of an intermediate passage which includes a vertical portion 32 that extends vertically from adjacent the lower edge of the casing engaging member and communicates with the main passage 15a. The intermediate passage also includes a horizontal portion 33 that intercommunicates the vertical portion at the intermediate passage 32 with the annular pressure passage 31. With this arrangement, it will be seen that the seal between the pitless well adaptor and the exterior is subjected to system water pressure to thereby minimize leakage from he exterior into the well in the event of failure of the external seal.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the casing engaging member 12 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart vertically extending downwardly tapered guides 34. In this respect, the forward surface of each of the guides 34 tapers downwardly towards the inner surface of the casing engaging member. It will be further noted that the inner surface of the casing engaging member is provided with an annular recess 35 which surrounds the opening or main passage a therethrough. An annular brass element 36 is pressed into this recess so that an inwardly substantially fiat sealing face 36a is defined by the brass element.

The well adaptor also includes a coupling member 37 which, as shown, has an L-shaped passage 38 therethrough, and which is connected to the casing engaging member 12. It will be noted that the downwardly facing portion of the L-shaped passage is internally threaded as at 39 for threaded connection to the upper end of the vertical well pipe 40. The coupling member 37 also has an upwardly facing internally threaded cylindrical recess 41 therein for threaded connection to the lower threaded end of a drop pipe 42. The coupling member 37 has a vertical face 37a which is disposed in confronting relation with the inner surface of the casing engaging member 12. It will be noted that this vertical face 370 is provided with an annular recess 43 therein for accommodating a compressible sealing element 44.lt is preferred that the compressible sealing element 44 be formed ofa yieldable material such as leather or the like. This compressible sealing element 44 forms a fluid seal when it is compressed against the annular brass element 36.

Means are provided for urging the coupling member 37 into coupling relation with the casing engaging member 12 so that the passage 38 communicates with the passage 15a. To this end, the coupling member 37 is provided with a pair of vertically extending tapered guide elements 45 which, as shown, are positioned on opposite sides of the coupling member adjacent the face 37a. These guide elements actually constitute flanges whose front surface is defined by the marginal portions of the vertical face 37a of the coupling member 37. The face 370 is substantially flat or flush while the rear edge surfaces of the flanges or guide elements are tapered downwardly. These guide elements cooperate with the inwardly tapered guides 34 of the casing engaging member to urge the coupling member into sealed coupled relation with casing engaging member when the coupling member is urged downwardly.

It will be noted that the coupling member 37 is provided with a downwardly projecting stop member 47 which has its front surface disposed in coplanar relation with the front face 370 .of the coupling member 37. This stop member has a slightly downwardly convex lower surface 48 which is urged into engaging relation with the upwardly concave upper surface of the lower positioning element 17 when the coupling member 37 is urged into fully coupled relation with respect to the casing engaging member 12.

In use, when the pitless adaptor is applied to a well casing to couple the well pipe to the horizontal disposed delivery pipe, a clamp cutting guide is provided to facilitate cutting the oval shaped opening 11a in the casing. This guide will have a general oval shaped configuration similar to the oval shaped configuration of the casing engaging member 12 and may thereby be strapped to the casing by the U-shaped bolts or straps 24. After the opening 11a has been cut into the casing 11, the casing engaging member is properly positioned with respect to the opening in thecasing by the coaction of the positioning elements 17 and 18 with edges of the opening. The U-shaped claimping bolts 24 will then be applied to the casing and casing engaging member to securely secure the casing engaging member on the casing. The coupling member 37 may then be lowered into the casing by means of the drop pipe 42 and the coacting tapered guide elements 45 and guides 34 permit proper coupling of the coupling member with respect to the casing engaging member. The drop pipe may be urged downwardly until the lower surface 48 of the stop member 47 engages the upper surface 20 of the lower positioning element 17.

The well pipe will then be coupled to the horizontal delivery pipe 16. The water flowing through the system communicates by means of the intermediate passage with the annular pressure passage 31 so that the seal between the casing and the exterior will be subjected to the water pressure within the system.

Thecoacting guide elements and guides permit easy removal of the coupling member from coupled relation with respect to the casing engaging member. In this respect, when the coupling member 37 is being removed, it will be pulled upwardly by the drop pipe and will engage and be guided by the inwardly and upwardly curved surface 22 of the upper positioning element 18 thereby precluding any damage to either the coupling member 37 or the casing engaging member 12. As pointed out above, the positioning elements 17 and 18 facilitate proper centering of the casing engaging member or saddle with respect to the casing, and the pressure passage subjects the coupling to the system pres sure adjacent the seal defined by the sealing elements 30. This minimizes any contamination of the well through failure of the pitless adaptor coupling.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing description that l have provided a novel pitless well adaptor, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

I claim:

1. A pitless well adaptor for attachment to a cylindrical well casing having a curvilinear opening therein spaced below the upper end of the casing, comprising:

a casing engaging member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface and adapted to be positioned against the exterior surface of the casing around the opening therein, said casing engaging member including an internally threaded sleeve integral therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom and having a main passage therethrough adapted to be connected to the horizontal delivery pipe,

means connected with said casing engaging member for releasably clamping the casing engaging member against the casing and around the opening in the latter,

a pair of spaced apart annular compressible sealing elements adapted to be interposed between the exterior surface of the casing around the opening therein and the inner marginal surface of the casing engaging member, each sealing element forming a seal between the casing and the casing engaging member when the adaptor is applied to a casing, said sealing elements cooperating with the casing engaging member and the casing to define an annular pressure passage located between the sealing elements.

an intermediate passage in said casing engaging member extending between and interconnecting said main passage and said pressure engaging passage,

a pair of vertically spaced apart positioning elements on said casing engaging member each having a curvilinear surface portion adapted to engage curvilinear edges of the opening to properly position the casing engaging member with respect to the opening,

said casing engaging member having a pair of vertically extending elongate spaced apart guide elements on the inner surface thereof and cooperating therewith to define a pair of downwardly tapering guideways on opposite sides of said main passage,

a coupling member having a passage therethrough and being adapted to be connected in communicating relation with the well pipe,

a pair of vertically extending spaced apart elongate downwardly tapering guide elements on said coupling member engageable in said guideways to urge said coupling member into fluid sealing relation with the inner surface of said casing engaging member and to intercommunicate the passage of said coupling member with the main passage of said casing engage member, said coupling member when coupled to the casing engaging member projecting through the opening in the casing and being spaced inwardly from the edges defining the opening in the casing.

2. The pitless well adaptor as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing engaging member is provided with a pair of annular recesses in he inner surface thereof, each recess receiving one of said sealing elements therein, an annular ridge defined between said recesses, said annular ridge being spaced from the exterior surface of the well casing when said casing engaging member and said sealing elements are disposed in engaging relation with the well casing.

3. The pitless well adaptor as defined in claim 1 and a stop element on said coupling member engaging the upper surface of the lowermost positioning element on the casing engaging member to limit movement of the coupling member when urged into coupled relation with the casing engaging member. 

1. A pitless well adaptor for attachment to a cylindrical well casing having a curvilinear opening therein spaced below the upper end of the casing, comprising: a casing engaging member having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface and adapted to be positioned against the exterior surface of the casing around the opening therein, said casing engaging member including an internally threaded sleeve integral therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom and having a main passage therethrough adapted to be connected to the horizontal delivery pipe, means connected with said casing engaging member for releasably clamping the casing engaging member against the casing and around the opening in the latter, a pair of spaced apart annular compressible sealing elements adapted to be interposed between the exterior surface of the casing around the opening therein and the inner marginal surface of the casing engaging member, each sealing element forming a seal between the casing and the casing engaging member when the adaptor is applied to a casing, said sealing elements cooperating with the casing engaging member and the casing to define an annular pressure passage located between the sealing elements, an intermediate passage in said casing engaging member extending between and interconnecting said main passage and said pressure engaging passage, a pair of vertically spaced apart positioning elements on said casing engaging member each having a curvilinear surface portion adapted to engage curvilinear edges of the opening to properly position the casing engaging member with respect to the opening, said casing engaging member having a pair of vertically extending elongate spaced apart guide elements on the inner surface thereof and cooperating therewith to define a pair of downwardly tapering guideways on opposite sides of said main passage, a coupling member having a passage therethrough and being adapted to be connected in communicating relation with the well pipe, a pair of vertically extending spaced apart elongate downwardly tapering guide elements on said coupling member engageable in said guideways to urge said coupling member into fluid sealing relation with the inner surface of said casing engaging member and to intercommunicate the passage of said coupling member with the main passage of said casing engage member, said coupling member when coupled to the casing engaging member projecting through the opening in the casing and being spaced inwardly from the edges defining the opening in the casing.
 2. The pitless well adaptor as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing engaging member is provided with a pair of annular recesses in the inner surface thereof, each recess receiving one of said sealing elements therein, an annular ridge defined between said recesses, said annular ridge being spaced from the exterior surface of the well casing when said casing engaging member and said sealing elements are disposed in engaging relation with the well casing.
 3. The pitless well adaptor as defined in claim 1 and a stop element on said coupling member engaging the upper surface of the lowermost positioning element on the casing engaging member to limit movement of the coupling member when urged into coupled relation with the casing engaging member. 